Textured surface items and method and apparatus for applying indicia to items with textured surfaces

ABSTRACT

A method of applying indicia to an item having a textured surface is disclosed herein, the method including the steps of: applying a textured paint to an exterior surface of the item; and applying the indicia to the exterior surface by an offset printing process. Also disclosed herein is a fluid filter having: a housing having an exterior surface; a textured paint applied to the exterior surface; and indicia applied to the textured paint, wherein the indicia is applied by an offset printing process.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/248,750, filed Sep. 29, 2011,which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/387,759 filedSep. 29, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference thereto.

BACKGROUND

Many types of fluid filters are used in engine lubrication systems,hydraulic systems and fuel systems to remove particles from the fluidbeing circulated. Typically, these filters are secured to and removedfrom these systems by engaging a threaded spud. In order to facilitategripping of these filters an exterior surface of the filter isconfigured to have a textured surface such that gripping of the same bya hand or tool is enhanced. Furthermore and in order to provide thenecessary markings to the commercial embodiment it is necessary toprovide indicia to the exterior surface of the filter.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an item with indicia disposed ona textured surface in a cost-efficient manner and a method for applyingthe indicia.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a methodof applying indicia to an item having a textured surface, the methodincluding the steps of: applying a textured paint to an exterior surfaceof the item; and applying the indicia to the exterior surface by anoffset printing process.

Also disclosed herein is a fluid filter having: a housing having anexterior surface; a textured paint applied to the exterior surface; andindicia applied to the textured paint, wherein the indicia is applied byan offset printing process.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of applying indicia to an itemhaving a textured surface is provided, the method including the stepsof: applying a textured paint to an exterior round surface of an itemvia an electrostatic process; curing the textured paint on the exteriorround surface; and applying the indicia to the exterior round surface byan offset printing process after the textured paint has been cured,wherein the indicia is an ink that is first transferred to an etchedanilox roll, which then transfers the ink to a plurality of pads and theplurality of pads apply the ink to the exterior round surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an oil filter formed in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of the filter illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus for applying indicia to an item with atextured surface; and

FIG. 4 illustrates one non-limiting method of applying the indicia tothe item in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS., a filtering device or item 10 is shownmanufactured according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The item or filter 10 is configured to be mounted onto afilter mount of an engine or other liquid system requiring filtration.The filter 10 is adapted to be operably mounted to and in communicationwith a lubrication system, hydraulic system, fuel system, or other fluidcirculation-type systems that benefit from fluid filtration provided bythe assembly. In one application, the filter mount has a threaded spudportion that engages a threaded opening of the filter. Thus, an exteriorsurface 12 of the filter is grasped by a user's hand or tool to removeand apply the filter. Accordingly, the exterior surface 12 do thehousing of the filter will be round or have a cylindrical shape. Inorder to make this surface easier to grasp especially with the filterbeing in an environment that would allow the same to be coated withgreases, oils, etc. that would make this surface hard to grasp theexterior surface is coated with a textured paint providing a roughsurface. However, this round textured surface now poses problems forapplying suitable indicia for use in the commercial products.

Thereafter and in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention indicia 14 is applied to the filter via a dry offset printingprocess. A non-limiting cross-sectional view of the textured surface isillustrated in FIG. 2 here the filter housing 16 and the irregularsurface of the textured paint 18 is illustrated.

In order to create this textured surface, specially formulated texturedpowder paint is applied using a NORDSON electrostatic powder paintsystem. This system operates by electrostatically charging the powderpaint particles and applying them to the grounded product (e.g., item oroil filter) using compressed air to blow the charged material onto thesurface in a uniform manner. This dry powder is then liquefied and curedby passing through an infrared oven to bake the finish onto thesubstrate.

After passing through a cooling tunnel, the part would directly flowinto a printing system 20 for decoration or application of theappropriate markings. Additional information on the aforementionedNORDSON automatic powder coating systems can be found at here:http://www.nordson.com/en-us/divisions/industrial-coating/products/Powder-Coating/Pages/Default.aspx.Other commercially textured paints are available from Spraylat, SherwinWilliams, Valspar and Akzo Nobel.

Thereafter, the item with the textured surface will be sent to aprinting system 20 wherein the indicia is applied. In one non-limitingexemplary embodiment, the indicia is applied by a FLEXAPEX offsetprinting process or similar process available from APEXMACHINE Companyor others that utilize inking technologies and UV (ultraviolet) curedinks in combination with a dry offset printing process, which allows forthe use of multi-colors at high speeds. Other contemplated printingmethods include silk screening, high resolution inkjet and equivalentsthereof. Some of these processes are available from the followingcompanies Kamen, Allied Decorating Systems (Silkscreen) and Tonjet (HighResolution Inkjet).

A general description of this process can be found at:http://www.flexapex.com/flexapex.html.

Referring to FIG. 3, a non-limiting schematic of the printing system 20is illustrated. Here an etched anilox roll 22 receives ink from anotherroll or application system or any other suitable process 24. In oneembodiment roll 24 is rotating in a direction of the arrow 26 and roll22 is rotating in the direction of arrow 28. As roll 22 rotates in thedirection or arrow 28 the applied ink is transferred to pads 29 of arotating cylinder 30. Cylinder 30 rotates in the direction of arrow 32and the pads 29 make contact with the textured surface of the item oroil filter 10, which rotates in a direction of arrow 34 and applies theink to the textured surface of the oil filter. Thereafter, the item withthe ink applied is moved in the direction of the arrow 36 towards a UVcuring station of system 20. In addition, an un-inked (e.g., previouslypainted with a textured paint) item 10 is fed into a machine or otherequivalent device 38 in a direction of arrow 40 wherein device 38 isconfigured to rotate the item in the direction of arrow 34 such that theink is applied by cylinder 30.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention andby using an engraved anilox roll specific etched depths are provided onroll 22 and thus a sufficient amount of ink or other equivalent materialis applied to the three-dimensional textured surface of the item 10 viathe pads 29. In so doing, the applied indicia is visible on a texturedsurface and thus, lower cost materials such as inks as opposed to highercost labels and/or sleeves are capable of being applied to the itemwhich lowers the overall manufacturing costs associated therewith.

By using the aforementioned offset process, large volumes of ink areavailable for the printing of the indicia on the item. In oneembodiment, the textured paint is a first color and the indicia or inkis a second color, wherein the first color is different from the secondcolor.

Although an oil filter is illustrated as one contemplated embodiment, itis understood that exemplary embodiments of the present invention can beapplied to other items having textured surfaces and exemplaryembodiments of the present invention are not specifically limited to oilfilters.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method of applying the ink to a textured surface ofan oil filter in accordance with one non-limiting exemplary embodimentof the present invention. In a first step 50, the surface of the item orthe oil filter has a textured powder paint applied to an exteriorsurface thereof by electrostatically charging the powder paint particlesand applying them to the grounded product (e.g., the item or oil filter)using compressed air to blow the charged material onto the surface in auniform manner. This dry powder is then liquefied and cured onto theexterior surface of the filter or item by passing the same through aninfrared oven to bake the finish onto the substrate at step 52.

Thereafter, the item is passed through a cooling tunnel at step 54. Oncecooled, the oil filter housing or part (e.g., item) is then transferredto printing system 20 or equivalents thereof at step 56 for decorationor application of the appropriate markings.

As mentioned above and at step 56 the indicia is an ink applied via anoffset printing process or similar process available from APEXMACHINECompany or others that utilize inking technologies and UV (ultraviolet)cured inks in combination with a dry offset printing process, whichallows for the use of multi-colors at high speeds. A general descriptionof this process can be found at: http://www.flexapex.com/flexapex.html.Reference is also made to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,907,822;6,526,880; and 6,220,154 the contents each of which are incorporatedherein by reference thereto.

Once the ink is applied using system 20 at step 56, the item or oilfilter with the ink applied thereon is advanced towards a UV curingstation at step 58.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims and their legal equivalence.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fluid filter, comprising: a housing having anexterior surface; a textured paint applied to the exterior surface; andindicia applied to the textured paint, wherein the indicia is applied byan offset printing process.
 2. The fluid filter as in claim 1, whereinthe housing is round.
 3. The fluid filter as in claim 1, wherein theindicia is an ink and the textured paint is an electrostatic powderedpaint that is cured prior to the application of the indicia.
 4. Thefluid filter as in claim 3, wherein the housing is round.
 5. The fluidfilter as in claim 4, wherein the fluid filter is an oil filter.
 6. Thefluid filter as in claim 5, wherein the electrostatic powdered paint isa first color and the indicia is a second color, the first color beingdifferent from the second color.